Apparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir of a rear wiper system includes a fill cup assembly having main body and a cover. The main body defines an opening for receiving washer fluid. A first conduit provides fluid communication between the opening and the washer fluid reservoir for the transfer of washer fluid. A second conduit allows for venting of the washer fluid reservoir back to the opening and provides complete exterior venting of fumes. A vent passage defined in part by the second conduit is blocked when the cover is rotated to a closed position. A designed-in interference normally retains the cover in its opened position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to motor vehicles. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to an improved apparatus forfilling a washer fluid reservoir of a motor vehicle.

2. Discussion

Modern motor vehicles are typically equipped with a single or a pair ofwindshield wiper assemblies. It is known to employ a window wiperassembly for cleaning rear windows of motor vehicles. For example, mostutility vehicles, station wagons, minivans and the like incorporate asteeply sloped rear window equipped with a window wiper assembly. Therear windows of such vehicles are typically associated with a pivotallymounted liftgate or tailgate. Conventionally, these types of rear windowwiper assemblies include a wiper blade operatively associated with therear window and a fluid reservoir for supplying fluid for cleaning therear window.

When the windshield wiper assembly is intended for cleaning the vehiclewindshield, a fluid reservoir bottle is positioned under the hood andeasily accessible for convenient refilling. Where the window wiperassembly is intended to clean a rear window of the vehicle, packagingconsiderations are significantly different. In this regard, the types ofvehicles which typically employ rear wiper assemblies (e.g., utilityvehicles, station wagons, minivans and the like) do not include trunkswhich would provide a convenient location for a washer fluid reservoir.It is known to remotely locate the washer fluid reservoir within a rearcargo area of the vehicle. While such arrangements have proven toalleviate certain packaging difficulties and operational inconveniences,they all remain associated with disadvantages. Primarily insofar as thepresent invention is concerned, prior known arrangements do notadequately ventilate the washer fluid reservoir upon refilling. In thisregard, many known systems undesirably displace air from the washerfluid reservoir into the vehicle upon refilling. Additionally, knownarrangements are time consuming and messy to fill since air displacedfrom the washer fluid reservoir is typically required to exit the sameopening into which washer fluid is being introduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improvedapparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir of a motor vehicle.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide anapparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir of a motor vehicle withimproved venting of the reservoir.

In one form, the present invention provides an apparatus for filling awasher fluid reservoir of a motor vehicle wiper system with a washerfluid. The apparatus includes a fill cup for initially receiving thefluid. A first portion of the fill cup is in fluid communication withthe washer fluid reservoir for delivering the fluid thereto. A secondportion of the fill cup is in fluid communication with the washer fluidreservoir for venting air back to the fill cup.

Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relatesfrom a reading of the subsequent description of the preferred embodimentand the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of an apparatus for filling a washerfluid reservoir for a rear wiper system constructed in accordance withthe teachings of a preferred embodiment of the present invention andshown operatively installed within a portion of an exemplary motorvehicle.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a fill cup assembly of theapparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir of FIG. 1 removed fromthe exemplary motor vehicle for purposes of illustration and shown withthe cover in its closed position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the fill cup assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the fill cup assembly of FIG. 2 shown with thecover rotated 180 degrees from its closed position.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partial view of the fill cup assembly of FIG. 2 illustratinga designed-in interference operative to prevent the cover frominadvertently closing.

FIG. 7 is a view of the foam seal of FIG. 2 shown removed from theapparatus for purposes of illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With initial reference to FIG. 1, an apparatus for filling a washerfluid reservoir constructed in accordance with the teachings of apreferred embodiment of the present invention is generally identifiedwith reference numeral 10. The apparatus 10 is shown (in solid lines)operatively associated with a portion of an exemplary motor vehicle 12within a cutaway portion of the vehicle 12. It will be understood thatthe particular arrangement shown in the environmental view of FIG. 1 isexemplary in nature and that the teachings of the present invention arenot so limited.

Prior to addressing the construction and operation of the apparatus 10of the present invention, a brief understanding of the cooperatingcomponents of the vehicle 12 is warranted. The apparatus 10 isspecifically adapted for use with a rear wiper assembly 14. The rearwiper assembly 14 includes a rear wiper (partially shown at 16)operatively associated with a glass panel or window 18 of a pivotallymounted liftgate 20. The rear wiper assembly 14 includes a washer fluidreservoir 22 for storing a supply of washer fluid. While notspecifically shown, it will be understood that the washer fluidreservoir 22 is mounted to the body of the vehicle 12 adjacent theD-pillar assembly 24. A conduit (partially shown at 26) provides fluidcommunication from the washer fluid reservoir 22 and a fluid outlet (notshown) operatively associated with the rear wiper 16. It will beunderstood that the manner in which fluid is pumped from the fluidreservoir 22 to the rear wiper assembly 14 is conventional in nature andneed not be described.

With continued reference to FIG. 1 and additional reference to FIGS.2-7, the apparatus 10 of the present invention will now be described inmore detail. The apparatus 10 is shown to generally include a fill cupassembly 30 and first and second conduits 32 and 34 providing fluidcommunication between the fill cup assembly 30 and the washer fluidreservoir 22. The fill cup assembly 30 includes a main body portion 36attached to a cover or lid 38 through a living hinge 40. The livinghinge 40 permits the cover 38 to be moved between an open position (asshown in FIG. 4) and a closed position (as shown in FIG. 2).

The main body 36 of the fill cup assembly 30 defines an opening for theintroduction of washer fluid into the rear wiper assembly 14. The mainbody 36 further includes a first port or washer fluid port 44 and asecond port or vent port 46. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated,the opening 42 of the main body 36 downwardly tapers and functions as afunnel for delivering washer fluid to the washer fluid reservoir 22which is remotely located. In this regard, the fluid port 44 is disposedat a lower end of the main body 36.

The first and second conduits or hoses 32 and 34 cooperate with thefirst and second ports 44 and 46, respectively, to provide fluidcommunication between the opening 42 of the fill cup assembly 30 and thewasher fluid reservoir 22. In one application, the first and secondconduits 32 and 34 are constructed of rubber or other suitable materialand are frictionally retained on the first and second ports 44 and 46,respectively. Alternatively, while not preferred due to associated costsand labor, hose clamps or other known structure may be employed forsecuring the conduits 32 and 34 to the ports 44 and 46, respectively.

To provide means for venting air from the washer fluid reservoir 22 uponrefilling, the second conduit 34 cooperates with the main body 36 of thefill cup assembly 30 to define a vent passage 48. The vent passage 48 isfurther defined by a wall segment 50 (shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and5) positioned within the opening 42 of the main body 36 such that thevent passage 48 opens adjacent an upper end of the opening 42. As such,the main body 36 can be completely filled with washer fluid duringrefilling of the washer fluid reservoir 22 without blocking the ventpassage 48.

The apparatus 10 of the present invention further includes a cover seal52 attached to the underside of the cover 38. The cover seal 52 isconstructed from PVC foam or other suitable material and adhesivelymounted to the cover 38. When the cover 38 is in its closed position,the cover seal 52 substantially closes the vent passage 48 and preventsfumes from escaping therethrough.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the fill cup assembly 30 isunitarily constructed with an injection molding process. One suitablematerial for the fill cup assembly is polypropelene. However, otherknown materials may be employed. The fill cup assembly 30 is molded withthe living hinge 40 and the cover 38 in fully opened positions (as shownin FIG. 4). As such, the cover 38 is inherently biased toward an openedposition. The cover 38 is further maintained in its open positionthrough a designed-in interference which is shown specifically in FIG.6. As illustrated, a rear corner 54 of the cover 38 overlaps an adjacentportion of the main body 36 when the cover 38 is opened. When the cover38 is moved toward its closed position, the rear corner 54 must beresiliently deflected.

As shown in the environmental view of FIG. 1, the fill cup assembly 30is positioned on the exterior side of the D-pillar assembly 24 and isintended to be accessible upon opening of the liftgate 20. The first andsecond conduits 32 and 34 extend through an aperture (not shown)provided in the D-pillar assembly 24. To facilitate mounting of theapparatus 10 of the present invention to the D-pillar assembly 24, thefill cup assembly 30 is formed to include upper and lower mountingflanges 56 and 58 for cooperating with the opening in the D-pillarassembly 24. In the embodiment illustrated, the flanges 56 and 58 eachinclude an inwardly deflectable clip 60 which carries a stop surface 62.The D-pillar reinforcement 24 is captured between the stop surfaces 62and the main body 36 of the fill cup assembly 30.

With specific reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, the apparatus 10 of thepresent invention is further shown to include a mounting seal 66. Themounting seal 66 is generally oval in shape and preferably constructedfrom a closed cell foam or other suitable material. The seal 66 definesfirst and second openings 67 and 68 for receiving the first and secondports 44 and 46, respectively. The seal 66 is intended to be compressedbetween the main body 36 of the fill cup assembly 30 and the D-pillarassembly 24.

It is contemplated that the apparatus 10 of the present invention willbe provided as a single assembly for installation into a motor vehicle12 which requires no separate fasteners. In this regard, the first andsecond conduits 32 and 34 will be attached to the first and second ports44 and 46, respectively, and the seal 66 will be operatively positionedadjacent the main body 36 prior to final vehicle assembly. During finalvehicle assembly, the first and second conduits 32 and 34 are attachedto suitable ports (not shown) on the washer fluid reservoir 22 and thefill cup assembly 30 is snapped into place on the D-pillar assembly 24.In this regard, the oppositely positioned clips 60 are compressed towardone another by the perimeter of the opening in the D-pillar assembly 24.Upon insertion of the flanges 56 and 58 into the D-pillar assemblyopening, the clips 60 resiliently spring back and the stop surfaces 62retain the fill cup assembly 30.

During use, an operator opens the rear liftgate 20 and pours washerfluid into the opening 42 of the fill cup assembly 30. Venting of airfrom the washer fluid reservoir 22 quickens the fill rate of thereservoir 22 and provides complete exterior venting of fumes. Uponcompletion, the cover 38 is closed and the cover seal 52 blocks the ventpassage 48, thereby containing fumes from the washer fluid within thewasher fluid reservoir 22. The fill cup assembly 30 further functions toprovide a self-contained overflow for the washer fluid reservoir 22.

While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation, and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoirof a motor vehicle rear wiper system with a fluid in combination withthe motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including a pillar, the apparatuscomprising:a fill cup assembly having a main body portion defining acavity for receiving fluid, the fill cup mounted to the pillar; a firstconduit in fluid communication with the cavity and the fluid reservoirfor delivering the fluid from the cavity to the fluid reservoir; and asecond conduit in fluid communication with the cavity and the fluidreservoir for venting air from the fluid reservoir back to the cavity;wherein the pillar is a D-pillar and the fill cup assembly includes atleast one mounting flange extending through an aperture in the D-pillar.2. The apparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir of claim 1,wherein the fill cup assembly includes a cover hingedly attached to themain body portion for movement between an open position and a closedposition such that the cover prevents vented air from escaping theapparatus when in the closed position.
 3. The apparatus for filling awasher fluid reservoir of claim 2, wherein the fill cup assemblyincludes means for normally opposing movement of the cover from the openposition to the closed position.
 4. The apparatus for filling a washerfluid reservoir of claim 2, wherein the fill cup assembly includes aliving hinge interconnecting the main body portion and the cover.
 5. Theapparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir of claim 2, wherein thefill cup assembly is injection molded from plastic.
 6. The apparatus forfilling a washer fluid reservoir of claim 2, wherein the fill cupassembly further includes a wall segment in fluid communication with thesecond conduit, the wall segment and the second conduit defining a ventpassage which opens substantially in a plane including an upper edge ofthe main body portion, an underside of the cover directly closing thevent passage when the cover is in the closed position.
 7. The apparatusfor filling a washer fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the cavitydownwardly tapers.
 8. The apparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoirof claim 1, wherein the first conduit is in fluid communication with alower end of the cavity defined by the main body portion of the fillcup.
 9. The apparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir of claim 1,wherein the second conduit is in fluid communication with an upper endof the cavity defined by the main body portion of the fill cup.
 10. Theapparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein theat least one mounting flange includes an inwardly deflectable cliphaving a stop surface, a portion of the D-pillar captured between thestop surface and the main body portion.
 11. An apparatus for filling awasher fluid reservoir with a fluid, the apparatus including:a fill cupassembly including a main body portion defining a cavity for initiallyreceiving the fluid; a first fluid port in fluid communication with alower portion of the cavity, the first fluid port adapted fortransferring the fluid from the cavity to the washer fluid reservoir; asecond fluid port which opens substantially in a plane including anupper edge of the main body portion, the second port adapted for routingvented air from the reservoir to the cavity; and a cover attached to themain body portion for movement between a first position and a secondposition, an underside of the cover directly closing the second fluidport when the cover is in the closed position.
 12. The apparatus forfilling a washer fluid reservoir of claim 11, wherein the fill cupassembly includes a wall segment disposed in the cavity at leastpartially defining the second fluid port.
 13. An apparatus for filling awasher fluid reservoir of a motor vehicle wiper system with a fluid incombination with the motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:a fill cupassembly having a main body portion defining a cavity for receivingfluid, the fill cup mounted to the vehicle, the fill cup assemblyincluding a wall segment in fluid communication with the second conduit,the wall segment and the second conduit defining a vent passage whichopens substantially in a plane including an upper edge of the main bodyportion; a first conduit in fluid communication with the cavity and thefluid reservoir for delivering the fluid from the cavity to the fluidreservoir; a second conduit in fluid communication with the cavity andthe fluid reservoir for venting air from the fluid reservoir back to thecavity; and a cover hingedly attached to the main body portion formovement between an open position and a closed position such that thecover prevents vented air from escaping the apparatus when in the closedposition, an underside of the cover directly closing the vent passagewhen the cover is in the closed position.
 14. The apparatus for fillinga washer fluid reservoir of claim 13, wherein the motor vehicle includesa D-pillar, the fill cup being mounted to the D-pillar.
 15. Theapparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir of claim 14, wherein thefill cup assembly includes at least one mounting flange extendingthrough an aperture in the D-pillar.
 16. The apparatus for filling awasher fluid reservoir of claim 15, wherein the at least one mountingflange includes an inwardly deflectable clip having a stop surface, aportion of the D-pillar captured between the stop surface and the mainbody portion.
 17. The apparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir ofclaim 13, wherein the cavity downwardly tapers.
 18. The apparatus forfilling a washer fluid reservoir of claim 13, wherein the first conduitis in fluid communication with a lower end of the cavity defined by themain body portion of the fill cup.
 19. The apparatus for filling awasher fluid reservoir of claim 13, wherein the second conduit is influid communication with an upper end of the cavity defined by the mainbody portion of the fill cup.
 20. The apparatus for filling a washerfluid reservoir of claim 13, wherein the fill cup assembly includesmeans for normally opposing movement of the cover from the open positionto the closed position.
 21. The apparatus for filling a washer fluidreservoir of claim 13, wherein the fill cup assembly includes a livinghinge interconnecting the main body portion and the cover.
 22. Theapparatus for filling a washer fluid reservoir of claim 13, wherein thefill cup assembly is injection molded from plastic.